Safety razor



"J. c. EVANS SAFETY RAZOR Dec. 19, 1939.

Filed March 4, 1938 iggasz upvdd s, WE Vmh T my Mm Q m M Patented Dec. 19, 1939 more Swissmam orrncs 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety razor, such as for use in shaving the beard, of the type wherein a cap is, interposed between the blade and the face.

As is well known, an emollient, such as a shaving cream, shaving soap or brushless shave, is customarily applied to the face to soften the beard before shaving. This emollient is almost always used in connection with water. In fact, researches have shown that the critical element in the softening of thebeard is Water, and that the function of most of the soaps, creams and brushless shaves is merely to keep water in continuing contact with the beard. It has doubtless been the experience of many that, as the process of shaving proceeds, the water and soap already on the face become dry, thus making the shave more difficult.

It is an object of this invention to supply additional water to the heard in order to keep it continually in a soft condition. It is a further object to provide .a simple andinexpensive apparatus for supplying such additional water. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing Fig. 1 illustrates a razor embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate plan views of modified forms of the face contacting cap constituting the essential part of my invention.

I have found that additional Water can be easily and simply and inexpensively supplied to the beard by providing the cap between the blade and the face with a series of capillary depressions which will hold water when the razor is merely dipped into the water. Upon applying the razor to the face after each dip, the water is 40 deposited on the face, thus keeping the beard soft.

By the term capillary depressions, as used throughout the present specification and claims, is meant depressions of such a size and shape as to hold a substantial quantity of water by capillarity, which depends on the relative attraction between molecules of water and other molecules of water and between molecules of water and molecules of the solid in which the capillary depressions exist. The shape, size and number of these depressions can obviously vary within wide limits, and depend upon the amount of water desired to be held, the material of which the razor is made (since attraction between water 5 and a solid varies according to the solid selected),

and the relative smoothness or roughness of the depressions. The interiors of the depressions, in fact, need not be excessively smooth, since such interiors do not directly contact the face; and by having them slightly rough greater quan- 5 tities of water can be more tenaciously held.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the preferred form of my invention, in which a blade 6 mounted in the holder 5 is kept from direct contact with the face, except at its cutting edge, by means of a face .con- 10 tacting cap I. On the outer or face contacting surface of the cap- 7 are placed a series of circular capillary depressions 8, such as in the shape of an inverted cone. In the ordinary Gillette type or double edged razor, it is found that a 15 series of sixty-five holes arranged in five rows of thirteen each have produced very useful results. The capillary depressions in this case are each about two millimeters in diameterand about one millimeter deep.

These sizes and numbers and dimensions are, of course, merely illustrative and any other numher and size of depression would be suitable as long asthey are of such size as to hold water by capillary attraction. The shape of the depressions, of course, need not be that of an inverted con'ebut could equally well be that of a. cylinder. Similarly, the depressions need not even be circular in outline but can be a series of longitudinal grooves, as shown in Fig. 3, or a series of transverse grooves, as shown in Fig. 4. It is even possible, if desired, to have the capillary depressions extend right through the face contacting cap. This, however, is less desirable since with a large number of depressions placed close together the structure of the razor would tend to be unduly weakened.

From the above description, it is obvious that I have provided a simple and inexpensive device for supplying water to the beard to continually keep it soft. Each time the razor is dipped intowater to rinse it off the capillary depressions will attract additional water which will be deposited upon the face as the razor is drawn over the beard.

Although the invention has been described in connectionwith a double edged or Gillette type razor, it is equally obvious that it may be used with any other type of safety razor having a face contacting cap, such as the single edged type.

It is obvious that many other modifications may be made of the above invention and the invention is understood not to be restricted except as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a blade, a cap on the face contacting side of said blade, and a series of capillary depressions on the face contacting side of said cap, said depressions being laterally closed on all sides.

2. A safety razor comprising a blade, a cap on the face contacting side of said blade, and a series of circular capillary depressions on the face contacting side of said cap, said depressions being laterally closed on all sides.

3. A safety razor comprising a blade, a cap on the face contacting side of said blade, and a series of capillary depressions in the shape of an inverted cone on the face contacting side of said cap, said depressions being laterally closed on all sides.

JAMES C. EVANS. 

